Cross River Rail Workers Return to Dutton Park After Tragic Workplace Accident Spurs Safety Audit

Cross River Rail workers have returned to the construction site following a horrifying accident that prompted a walk off the job site in Dutton Park. However, construction will likely not yet resume as the workers have yet to participate in the recommended safety reviews.

On Tuesday, 25 July 2023, Nation ‘Nash’ Kouka, 54, fell 12 metres off the construction site on Boggo Rd and was under critical care at the Princess Alexandra Hospital. His son was also present when the accident occurred.

Following Mr Kouka’s accident, angry workers staged a protest as they demanded better safety measures which led to authorities launching a full safety audit of the Cross River Rail project. Transport Minister Mark Bailey also called for a “safety reset” after admitting that this accident shook his confidence in the project’s safety protocols.

The construction project, with a budget of $6.3 billion, has been facing safety concerns for some time. Since its inception, contractors working on the Cross River Rail have accumulated nearly 350 Workplace Health and Safety Queensland breaches. Among these, 38 stop-work orders and 30 infringement notices with fines have been issued.

One of the recorded incidents at the Albert St station was particularly alarming, where a worker was injured due to a falling object with no exclusion zone in place. A prohibition or stop-work notice was issued due to the “serious risk” it posed to health and safety.

According to the CFMEU construction union, the Cross River Rail has a history of “serious safety problems.” CFMEU national secretary Zach Smith called for a full safety audit to address the life-threatening mismanagement of the project.

The CFMEU is also demanding the dismissal of Mr Bailey, citing a dysfunctional department with issues of cost blowouts, project delays, poor safety, build quality, and worker exploitation.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, however, expressed confidence in Mr. Bailey’s efforts to address the safety concerns. She stated that the company responsible for the project should ensure a safe environment for workers, but investigations by Workplace Health and Safety Queensland are currently active.

Meanwhile, Mr Kouka’s wife, Doris, launched a GoFundMe to help with her husband’s treatments and recovery. Over $40,000 in donations have poured in within three days.

Published 31-July-2022

Spread the love